The Evolution of Our Frame Design

Welcome back to our blog! Today, we’re discussing the journey of designing and assembling the frame for our RoboSub.

Our initial design began with 1½-inch diameter PVC pipes for the main structure. This provided a lightweight yet sturdy framework. To maintain buoyancy, we incorporated 2-inch diameter PVC ballasts that were each 5 feet long.

For housing the electronics, we initially planned to use a 4-inch diameter PVC tube. While this solution seemed compact and waterproof, it became clear that adjustments were necessary as the design progressed.

As we continued with design we discovered a couple of issues:

• Space constraints in the PVC tube made it difficult to house all the electronics and wiring efficiently.

• The original layout didn’t allow easy access for maintenance or troubleshooting.

To address these challenges, we decided to using two 12x12x4-inch junction boxes for the electronics housing. This new design not only offers more space but also improves accessibility and allows for better organization of components.

So far, the design has been assembled in SolidWorks, allowing us to visualize the structure and make precise adjustments. To test our frame in simulated environments, we’re using Onshape to import the design into Isaac Sim. This simulation software provides a virtual space to refine our design, ensuring it can handle the challenges it will face underwater.

We’re now taking the exciting step of assembling the frame physically.

As we assemble the frame and begin real-world testing, we’ll be focusing on fine-tuning its buoyancy, stability, and overall performance.